Sound-controller for talking-machines.



0, E. KENYON. SOUND CONTROLLER FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

1,059,989. a Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 G. E. KENYON.

SOUND CONTROLLER FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1911.

1;O59;,939. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" YIIIIII/IIIIIIIII/lllh WITNESSES: f mmvros "A TTORNEYJ.

CHAiRLIE KENYON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

' soonn-con'rno'nnnn iron TALKING-MACHINES,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Apr. 22,1913.

Application filed May 31, 1911. Serial No. 630,526

the unmusical scratching sound produced by the actionof the needle as it moves over the record; and to provide means-for controlling the volume of sound emitted from the holh.

.Phonographs when operated in small rooms generally emit such a large volume ofsound as to produce harshness, and there-,

by mar the enjoyment of thelisteners. This is especially not-ahleavhen hand records or records of very powerful voices areiem ployed. By the use of myinvention the volumeof sound emitted can'be so nicely gradir" ated and controlled as to make any, record adapt-able forsuccesst'ul u'sein any sized room. Moreover, it is susceptible of use in connection with any type of phonograph' employ an eccentric cam 12, wlnch ismountand talking machine.

v This invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In' the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification Figure 1, is a longitudinal seetionat view of a phonograph horn having my improved controller con; nccted thereto; Fig. .2, a cross sectional view taken on' the line of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a

vertical sectional view of a cabinet, or hornless variety of phonograph, having my improved controller inserted therein; Fig. 4,-

a sectional plan view taken on the'line 4-14 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a similar. view, drawn on an enlarged scale, and illustrating a modified means for operating the controller; Fig. 6, a perspective, view of a plug for attaching the device; Fig, 7, aside view of one 'end of the device showing a modification of valve operating means; Fig. 8, an end view thereof; and Fig. 9, is a lengitndmal sectional-view illustrating a further modifica- 'tion.

\s 'illustated in Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawings, the device embodies a cylinder 1, having an integral head 2, and an open ended, inwardly extended contracted part 3, which engages within an annular recess of a hollow plug 4; this plug fits snugly within the horn, as A, and holds the device in place. Leading peripherally through the device is an annular series of slots 5, and openings 6, through which the sound waves pass laterally and are discharged into the horn A. All of the said parts are composed of elastic rubber.

Normally seated within a bevel-edged opening of the head 2 of the-cylinder 1, is a valve 7 this valve forms an'integral part of said'head-and it is joined at 8, a rib 9, being employed to stiffen the joint and maintain the valve 'in closed position.

\Vhe'n "the device is composed of rubber thevalve'7', isheld normally closed by its own resiliency;but I do not confine myself to the use of, rubber, as other non-resonant .matcrial, as'coinprcssed fiber, or wood, may

be employed. ,=When such material is used 30 bodies a separate 1 part which is connected tothe cylinder head by means of a'hinge 10,

- ClOSOdf POSltlOll ofgthe valve being 1naintained by; means of asuitable spring, as ll. 5

"Asa ineans'for operating the valve 7, 1

ed on a. horizontal rod 13; this rod extends through one side of the horn A, and is journaledin bearings 14, which are formed integral withthe cylinder 1; a knob 15, is

attached to the'outer end of said rod 13, to

be employed as a means for turning the same. \Vhen' the valve for discharging sound into the horn is composed of elastic rubber a coating of fabric 16, see Fig. .2, of the dra\v1ngs,is placed thereon'to reduce friction against the cam 12,"whereby said can! may be easily operated;

In Figs. 7 and 8-,of the drawings, I have illustrated a cylinder head having a plurality of valves 17, engaging outlet open ings 18. These are of difi'erential propor tion', and are to. be opened successively,- the largest when a full volume'of sound is required, and the smallest when. a light volumecf. sound is desirable. Each of said valves is connected. to lan operating lever 19, which is pivoted to a-bearmg 20, each lever beingooperable by means of'cams 21, form-' ,tion with the soun -mlet'pa'rt of the horn ing part of a cam wheel 22, which is mount ed on a shaft23, journaled'in bearings 24, which are secured to the cylinder. head. When the invention is used in a cabinet, or hornless variety of phonograph, a square a plug is fitted to the inlet of the recess 26,

or the purpose of holding the device in ,place, and the rod 13, is extended laterally through the side Walls of the cabinet. Or

10, on the outer end thereof which engages a the. rod1'3, may have a bevel-gear wheel 28,

similar wheel'29, mounted on the inner end of an Operating rod 30, which extends through the rear wall of the cabinet. The cabinet may have grilled doors 27, for discharging the sound, whereby it is not neces' being operated.

sary to open them when the phonograph is In the operatlon and use of'the invention the controller bein laced in communica:

or other ejector, as shownin the "drawings,

it is. simply necessary for an operator of V the phonograph to open and close the valve or valves, inaccordance with the volume of sound required, by the simple act of turn- .ing the knob 15, in' one direction to open, 5 and in the other to close the valves.

' When the valves. are entlrely closed a mmimum ofsound is ejected into the horn.

- through the slots. 5' and openings 6, and

.justment ofthe valves. V

I do notconfine myself to the specificwhenthey. are fully opened a full volume of sound is attained; the operator can also cause any desired intermediate degree of sound to be emitted by .a differential admeans for operating the valve, as herein shown; for instance a chord B, see Fig. 9

of the drawings, may be attached to the valve and led through the horn to any point handy for the operator.

Having thus described my invention,

' what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is: 1 z g 1. A sound controller or talking machines comprising a non-resonant compartment embodying-an outer head part and an inwardly extended open ended and contracted part, having an annular series of.soundoutlet openings leading therethrough, and

a sound-outlet opening leading through said head, anda spring actuated valve normally closing said opening, and a rod and cam for operating said valve, substantially as shown and described.

'2. .sound controller for talking machines, comprising a non-resonant compartment embo ying an outer head part and an inwardly extended open ended contracted part, said contracted part having an annular series of sound-outlet openings leading therethrough, and said head part having a therethplough, and a valve normally closing said opening, and Qmeans for operating sai valve, substantially as shown and described. 3. A sound controller ;for. talking masou nd-outlet opening leading centrally chines, comprising a non-resonant com artment, composed of elastic material an embodymg an outer head part and an inwardly extended open-ended contracted part, having an annular series of elon' ated'soundoutlet openings leadin throug its periph- I eral wall, and a soun -outlet openin leading through said head, and a valve ormed integral with said head and normally closing said sound-outlet openin and means for operating said valve, su stantially as shown and described.

4. A sound controller.

5: as... m...

chines, comprising a vnon-resonant compart: ment embod ngjan .outer .head part hav-.

and a'spring actuated valve normally closleading therethrough, and means forfoper ating the spring actuated .valve,- -substan-' 5. The combin tion, with a phonograph sound-outlet part, of a controller. ,compris- I part'said part having a.- coning a compartment embodying ahead and a cylindrical .tially as shown and described] Y- Y tracted extension openfat its inner-end,and having an annularseries of pen heral openings, andflan opening leadingt ough said a head, and a normally closed spring actuated valve within said opening, and a. cam and rod for operating said valve, substantially as shown and described. A

6. A sound controllerior talking machines, comprising a non-resonant compartment embodying an outer head art having a sound-outlet opening leadlng therethrough, and a spring actuated valve normally closing said opening, and an inwardly extended open ended contracted part having an annular series of sound-outlet openings leading peripherally therethrough, and a hollow plug of nonresonant material, said plug having an annular recess therein which engages the inner end of said contracted part, and "means for operating the said valve, substantially as shown-and described.

In testimony that, I claim the foregoing as my invention, -1 have signed my name in presence of two witnesses, this twenty sec 0nd day of May, A. D. 1911.

CHARLIE EMERY Witnesses:

J EDWARD MARKHOFF,

- AUGUST J. CHAMBOSSE.

KENYoNl 

